Team Stats

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Sophomore Jansma led the team with 24 assists in the team's 3-0 victory against Emmanuel College, Wednesday night. (Gil Talbot)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard men's volleyball team defeated Emmanuel College, 3-0, at the Malkin Athletic Center, Wednesday night. Harvard was led by senior Matt Jones who recorded 14 kills, helping the Crimson to improve to 8-2 in 2012.

The Saints and Crimson battled hard through the first set as there were five tied scores in the set's first 16 points. With the score 8-8, Harvard began to pull away off a kill by sophomore Nick Madden and a service ace from junior Derek Jansma, pushing the score to 10-8. Those kills sparked a 10-4 run for the Crimson highlighted by three kills from freshman Caleb Zimmick, which put Harvard up 20-12. Harvard was able to close out the set, scoring five of the next eight points to win 25-15.

The two teams traded points through the early part of the second set as an Austin Cockerill attack error and a service error by sophomore Will Chambers evened the score at 6-6. Harvard gained some distance going on a 12-3 run, sparked by the offense of Jones, Madden and freshman DJ White, making it 18-9. The Saints attempted to fight back scoring the next two points off a Madden service error and a service ace from Nick Updike, but Harvard outlasted Emmanuel, scoring seven of the next 11 points to close out the set, 25-15.

The Saints came out motivated in the third stanza taking control early. With Harvard leading 3-0, Emmanuel scored eight of the next nine points to take the advantage 8-4. Harvard stormed right back scoring four-straight points, evening the score at 8-8. The two teams jockeyed for the advantage as there were five lead changes in the matches next 18 points. With the score set at 17-17, Jones slammed down a kill along with an attack error from Zach Whitermore, which gave the Crimson a 19-17 lead. Harvard didn't relent scoring six of the next 10 points, to close out the set, 25-22, and the match 3-0.

Jones paced the Crimson with 14 kills, while White followed behind with eight. Jansma tallied 24 assists while sophomore Michael Owen, Jones and Chambers all tied for the team lead in blocks, with two apiece. Ashanti Jackson and Tom McCaffery paced the Saints with six kills. Updike dished out 18 assists while Zachary Caron led the team with four blocks.

Harvard will finish out its homestand this weekend when it takes on Sacred Heart, on Saturday Feb. 25, at 2 p.m.